Leon Peltier 1879

This portrait of Leon Peltier was painted by Claude Monet, probably in France. Although not much is known about Peltier himself, this image is intriguing when seen against the backdrop of Parisian society in the late 19th century. The portrait is painted with rapid, loose brushstrokes, indicative of the move towards impressionism in France at this time. Note the sitter’s pipe, which seems to suggest that this man is part of a bohemian social circle. We see bohemianism reflected also in his dress, with an open shirt and artist’s beret. Monet, like many other artists of the period, captured this emerging subculture of writers, painters, and intellectuals, many of whom, rejected the values of bourgeois society. This artistic style can be interpreted as a commentary on the changing social structures of the time. Historians can use resources such as letters, diaries, and exhibition reviews, to understand the cultural context in which art is made, giving insight into the relationship between the artist, their subject and wider society.